LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 223, 21 February 1861, Page 3

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

. . Fangitikei, Feb. 4, 61. Sir, —A bridge being carried away is a matter ;of considerable importance wherever it may occur; but when it forms part of the only highway between large flourishing districts and the port, its importance becomes considerably increased, while the downcast looks, as the news of the loss of the Wangaehu bridge spread ■ lightning speed over this district, tell more than words can what a loss each settler . felt it to be.

I am sure you will agree with me that it is necessary something should be done to make the river passable at once, when I tell you that but only part of the wool in Rangitikei and Turakina has reached town, and not a single bushel of this year’s grain crop, which has been larger in quantity and more abundant than any previous year. Allow me to suggest two ways of rendering the Wangaehu passable until another bridge can be built; which, supposing the government were to commence at once would take at least six months to complete ; for the settlers cannot allow the ferry, #c. to become again the nuisance it was previous to the last bridge being finished. I think, in the first place, a t punt suitable to the , river should be placed; * thereat once, in the care af an European, who| ought to be paid a fixed salary by government,! whether a- eharge is lhade for ferryage or not. Biit there are times when the river is low and the punt could not be worked, and then the only way to cross is by the ford ;“but the ford i is not safe even when the water is low, for recent floods have made holes which are difficult to And and dangerous to pass. So I beg

to suggest that piles be driven across the river iat the present ford in such a way that the silt may accumulate above them, and thus form a good and safe ford .when the punt is not workable. I think if these two plans were adopted, the settlers in Rangitikei and Turakina would be satisfied to,wait until a good strong substantial iron bridge could be procured from .England; for surely, after the experience the government have had, they will never attempt to put another timber one over so dangerous a river. I remain, yours, <^c. W. (Frotn our own Correspondent.) Feb. 14th, 1861/;

Having no intelligence to forward you last mail that would be interesting to your readers, I omiiteLto/se.nd. my usual weekly notes; and, really, there was nothing to communicate. Our Provincial elections are. soon now to take place. Dr. Feathers ton I can hardly fancy will be opposed. If he is, it will be by Park, who is more than hinted at; but bis attempt will meet the same fate as lately. He had better quietly shut up the political shop, and, stick to his surveying practice. It is too late for Stafford to show any’(useful) appreciation of his renegade efforts ; in fact, that gent, may soon have to look after his own interests. The following are spoken of as among those likely to be in the field for the Provincial Council—Capt. Rhodes, Messrs. W, W. Taylor, Hunter, J. Johnston, Stokes, Quin, Rottermund, and J. H. Wallace.

From accounts received by last mail from Auckland, I may assure you,—and I have it on undoubted authority,—that there is no foundation whatever for the report that General Wynyard is coming out to New Zealand, either as Commander of the Forces or as Governor of the c-dony. You will perceive that the Government notice, announcing the dissolution of our Provincial Council is not signed by Mr. Stafford—that gentleman being in our southern neighbourhood, attending, as report says, to pastoral pursuits—his partners being Dillon Bell and Richmond; and a beautiful sheep run they have at Otago. One of the firm has generally managed to go south at the seasonable periods ; —being well, paid by the government, of course, for the time thus devoted to their own affairs. Our provincial authorities are not singular in what the General Government folks call the Feather my-nest policy; the magnates alluded to doing this sort of tiling on a much grander scale.

Sewell has returned from Nelson, accompanied by Travers, the barrister. His mission was to investigate the <£lo,ooo robbery ex Airedale, but it has been barren ; of the result of inculpating any one as yet. He enjoys tile professional honor of being the solicitor to the Coleman Co., at a salary of ,£3OO per annum. Dr. Sinclair, late Colonial (Secretary, came over with him. You will of course have heard of the £IO,OOO having been dragged out of the harbour; it was in two boxes, one of I which was got by Mr. Garrard, the keeper of j the Company’s coal hulk, and the other by a (young man who was assisting him. Sewell has lately been appointed Registrar General, a lucrative post; and it is said that. Richmond, the Treasurer and Native Secretary, is to be Judge for Nelson and New Plymouth. These provisions for the future are surely indicative of the speedy downfall of the Stafford ministry. Monday, 18th Feb. 1861. . During the past week there has been more bustle in town than, i have witnessed for some time past, indicative of the improvement in trade which has for seven or eight weeks been sensibly felt. The Airedale has brought us word of thedissolution. The writs have been here since

Tuesday morniug, yet no notice has yet been 'issued either for the election of Superintendent or Council members. This is too bad, and quite unaccountable. The sooner the elections are over the better. The members of the Council on the Wakefield side are not yet fixed upon—everything is left to haphazard with them. On the Constitutional side many good names are spoken of, but there will he no agitation until necessary. There will probably be an opposition to the Superintendent, simply for annoyance and expence. Porter Welch is spoken of; but little as he is thought of, he will be thought still less of, if for mere, annoyance he opposes Dr. Featherston. There has been a grand departure from.here to Taranaki of fiye of our speculative merchants and traders. I suppose they are after the Commissariat contracts, and that Jimmy does not intend allowing Willy to have it all his own way. Johnny , too, is, I understand* of the same opinion.

The Fawn has sailed for Taranaki and Auckland. There are four war steamers on their way from England—Miranda, Harriet, Desperate, and Charybdis. The Iris, Niger, and Cordelia are to be. relieved. The 64th regt. is holding itself iu readiness at Bombay, and other regiments are-to-,follow if requisite, v Nothing, new from Taranaki... There are rumours, of peace. Bell.'was to have been down south by last mail,. but was detained by the Governor to assist in the negotiations. It is not clear who are the. originators of the movementbut it is certain that his Excellency is so sick and tired of the war, so ,disgusted with the m.ode in which it is carried on, so fearful of the extent to which disaffection will spread, that if he can. make peace on any thing like terms he will gladly do so. Then are rumours of disaffection, at the Ray of Islands, but I do not believe there is. any foundation for fear. ' The John Buhyan arrived, on Friday morning, after a first-rate passage of three months

■ There has been whS-hds : led’to the death of oiie of tlie saihirvby a rei voider in the captain’!, hand gojijgW by acci- • dent. Eight of the men arelndw, iiigaol. The case is to be heard at;the s The captain is our. ,old friendiAllanj formerly s of the Lord Wm. Bentinck, and? lately of the [ Clontarf, and we may be sure that. the. investi- ; gation will only -confirm- ; has hitherto maintained. .. ? . Win, A lien, who left: no one knevr'vrhere some twelve or/ fourteen- moqtlia since, re turned recently, and bn ’ Thursday ntglit was elected Manager of the Deferred Payments Society by a majority of 12 over Pickering, the Manager of the Building Society. A second powder magazine., is about to be built. The present one is-fbUi: and likely to i be so, of Government stores, sqjEhat merchants’! , powder must go elsewhere..... The,-contract for:

the sea wall, originally accepted l by ’Tanks, is now in, Carter’s haying thrown it,up. Lawes the lowest tenderers for the-, timber ’breastr (works and drains, have thrown up theirs alsb. Thompson Brothers and Charlie Gillespie, being pext;jn turn, have taken them.